Dr RK Jaswal Highlights Importance of Timely & Effective Action to Treat STEMI

Chandigarh: On the occasion of World Heart Day, Fortis Hospital Mohali organised a press conference to spread awareness about heart diseases and the prevention of cardiovascular conditions. Addressing the media, Dr RK Jaswal, Senior Director and Head of Department, Cardiology, and Director – Cathlabs, stressed the importance of early recognition and timely treatment of heart attacks, particularly ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

In line with the hospital’s World Heart Day theme, “Jab Dil Ki Ho Baat, Toh Dil Pe Le,” Dr Jaswal explained that STEMI is a serious type of heart attack that occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the heart becomes suddenly blocked.

“The heart muscle is highly metabolically active and cannot survive for long without adequate blood flow. Damage to the heart muscle begins rapidly after blood supply is interrupted. The first one to two hours after the onset of a heart attack, known as the ‘Golden Hour’, are crucial, as the risk of severe damage and sudden collapse is highest during this period,” said Dr Jaswal.

Comparing a heart attack to a heart being on fire, Dr Jaswal said that opening the blocked artery as early as possible significantly reduces damage to the heart muscle, prevents complications and improves the patient’s chances of recovery.

He also underlined the importance of recognising symptoms and seeking emergency medical care without delay. According to Dr Jaswal, symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, pain spreading to the arms, shoulders, back, neck, jaw or upper abdomen, shortness of breath, cold sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, sudden fatigue, weakness, and rapid or irregular heartbeat require immediate medical evaluation.

“The first delay in treatment often occurs because patients and family members fail to recognise the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Any suspected heart attack should be treated as a medical emergency,” he said.

Dr Jaswal added that public awareness plays a key role in reducing treatment delays. He said that Fortis Hospital Mohali regularly conducts awareness programmes to educate people about heart attack prevention, early symptom recognition and the importance of quick response in emergencies.

Highlighting the importance of hospital preparedness, Dr Jaswal said that delays can also occur when healthcare facilities are not equipped to respond rapidly. He stated that Fortis Hospital Mohali has developed a dedicated STEMI protocol to ensure quick identification of heart attack patients and prompt transfer to the cathlab from the emergency department.

He further noted that the presence of an experienced cardiology and paramedical team, along with cardiac anaesthesia support, helps facilitate timely treatment. Fortis Mohali also has advanced interventional cardiology technologies, including rotational atherectomy, orbital atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL), cutting and scoring balloons, and Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty (ELCA), which assist in managing complex coronary blockages.

Dr Jaswal said that timely treatment and an efficient STEMI care pathway are critical factors in improving outcomes for patients with acute heart attacks. He added that Fortis Hospital Mohali has achieved a door-to-balloon time of less than 60 minutes, which is significantly better than the international gold standard of under 90 minutes.

Reiterating the hospital’s commitment to cardiovascular health awareness, Dr Jaswal encouraged people to recognise warning signs, seek emergency medical help promptly and adopt healthy lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of heart disease.